UnbeLEEvable; Phils Offense, Lee Overpower Dodgers

In a world that sometimes lends itself to feast or famine, the Phillies certainly dug into a smorgasbord Sunday night as they crushed the Dodgers, 11-0, to take a two games to one series lead.

After scoring just one run on Friday in a loss to the Dodgers, the Phillies bats exploded scoring four first-inning runs courtesy of a two-run triple from “the Big Piece” Ryan Howard and a two-run bomb to center from Jayson Werth.

The onslaught continued throughout the game as the Phillies managed to put up the crooked number three more times, including two runs in the second, two in the fifth, and three in the eighth.

If you’re looking for a offensive standout, take your pick as every player in the starting line-up scored at least one run. Raul Ibanez was the only Phillies starter to not record a hit in the ball game.

Both Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino homered, Carlos Ruiz and Jimmy Rollins each had doubles. Ruiz’s torrent streak has been one of the keys to the Phillies success so far this postseason. “Chooch” is now batting a ridiculous .625 in this series and has seven R.B.I.’s throughout the playoffs.

Also of note on the offensive side of the ball, Howard set a Major League record in the first inning with an R.B.I. in his seventh consecutive postseason game, when all games came in the same season. The overall record is held by Lou Gehrig, who had ribbies in eight consecutive games, spanning three years.

Lost in the offensive beat-down was a masterful, eight inning performance from Cliff Lee. Lee was untouchable allowing just three hits, two to Manny Ramirez, all while sitting down ten on strikeouts. Despite coming to the plate in the eighth inning(an at-bat in which he roped a single), his 114 pitches tossed were just a bit too much to allow Lee to finish the complete game shut-out.

The hostile Philly crowd set the tone early with “Beat L.A.!” chants heard from the on-set. The Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda looked startled and the cold northeastern air seemed to stiffen his hurt neck. The Phillies wasted no time jumping on Kuroda and chased him in the second inning.

Both teams resume play Monday night, another 8:07 start. The Phillies will look to extend their series lead.

Whoever goes to the game needs to start a “RAAAAN-DY….RAAAAN-DY….RAAAAN-DY….RAAAAN-DY” chant. Let’s not underestimate an ex-Phillies pitcher, as we did to our dismay Friday. But, let’s get into his head! Crowd was awesome tonight.

Its really hard to pick the most important player in the Phillies post season between Howard and Lee. Lee has been a rock for us as a starter and Howard as been an RBI machine. Right now those two represent our best chance to repeat.

Hey John,
I’m in Austin too. There are more Philly people here than you think.

Hogg Island Deli at 4th and Lavaca streets is the place to watch Philly sports — Eagles games and Phils playoff games. It gets pretty packed, and they serve cheesesteaks. Almost enough to make a Philly guy feel at home.

That was awesome. Lee was amazing, the Dudgers got beat down hard and everybody gets a hit except for Ibanez… Maybe he’ll get one tomorrow. Joe the Pummeler on the hill tomorrow. Get em Phils… BEAT LA!

Last night’s game can juice up a lot of people as to expectations, but let’s not get outta control. I loved the way the Phils went out and took control early and just mounted and mounted. I loved that Manny was by himself — a couple of singles and that Lee mastered the Dodgers. But let’s not forget that after a feast of runs, there is often a famine in the next game. Let Blanton do well and the Phils get 5 or 6 runs, play solid defense. If so, we go up 3-1. Trivia — Dodgers beat Phillies in playoffs 1977, 78 ( I may be off by 1 season) and the Phils pounded the Dodgers in 1983 and 2008. A win in this series and the Phils have mastered the Dodgers in post-season play. Go Phillies!

Wow, that was a fun one to watch. I live in Paris, where these 8PM games start at 2AM for me. One from the Rockies series started at 4:37AM. Anyone else out there adjusting to a similarly awesome playoff watching schedule? Anyone else in France?

Eric – i’m in the UK. I’m having real issues staying up to watch the games that start at 8.07 ET [01.07GMT] especially if I’ve got work in the morning. The 4pm ET [9PM GMT] starts work out very well though!

That playoff RBI record Howard set really puts in perspective the legendary type of postseason he’s had thus far. I’d like to see him at least tie Gehrig’s record — well, because it will help us win — and it also will be nice to throw Gehrig’s name into a conversation there. Howard’s head-first dive into to try to avoid the tag at first was flat-out hustle, and I’m hoping it will turn around some of the howard-haters out there — that is if his penchant for clutch hits and his massive RBI total don’t.

The Phillies came out of the gate like they knew they should be up 2-0 in the series. Hopefully they’ll come out tonight knowing they should be 3-0, and should be playing to clinch.

Still a long way to go here. The whole notion of taking back home-field advantage with a split in LA goes away if we don’t sweep at home. Of course as pointed out in this thread …. if the series goes back to LA, and we strike early as we did last night, nobody will be there to see it.

So much for all the people who said that Game 2 would prove to be the game that turned the momentum in this series. That said, however, I am still a little anxious. Blanton has not shown anything lately that would give me optimism that he can win tonight, and you never know what’s going to be churning in Hamels’s mind. Plus, we tend to have a couple games of scoring drought after we have a scoring binge like this. So, I’d love to not have to go back to LA, but I’m not expecting it. By the way, did I read correctly that Kershaw is going to pitch Game 5? HERE???? Is Torre nuts? The crowd will tear him apart.

I never really liked Kobe but have TRIED to give him the benefit of the doubt through all his trials and tribulations. He IS an amazingly talented basketball player and I appreciate that. If he wants to be for the Dodgers….fine….that’s his right……but…… 1) DON’T be smug about it and 2) DON’T admit that you actually grew up a Mets fan. A$$hole.

Does anyone else wish that the radio broadcasters would go silent during the postgame interviews when Harry sings “High Hopes”? Or am I the only one who sings “High Hopes” when I hear it in the background?

Blanton will be fine. Even if he trails – and I’ve a feeling he will because Steve Phillips said on ESPN that Wolf is apparently excellent against lefties with his high fastball – he’ll keep it close enough that we’ll come back and win it. Maybe my prediction for Lidge getting the win will come true. We as fans will need to rattle Wolf.

@Craig – Awesome, nice to hear that there are others on this side of the Atlantic :-)! Yeah, figuring out how to manage it with work the next day is pretty tricky. Luckily my hours are pretty flexible as a software engineer with most of my coworkers living in CA and preferring when I work at night instead :-). My early morning language class (I just moved here recently) is the painful part!

I have impeccable Phillies luck and it’s getting to the point where it’s kind of weird. I was there last night… I had tickets and tried to sell them but had no luck on stub hub. People were actually selling their tickets at or less than face value… I guess the weather scared people away… I decided that I would rather go than take a loss and I’m so glad that I went.

Cliff Lee is a machine… surgical.

Howard is having a postseason for the ages. Playing great defense, spraying the ball all over the field and running the bases. He flawlessly started the 3-6-1 double play and almost beat out an infield roller at first by sliding head first. If we win the World Series, he’ll have another trophy on his mantle… WS MVP.

Saw Cal Ripken Jr… the TBS broadcast booth was right above Tony Luke’s and Cal was hanging over the railing. He was actually cordial and was signing autographs for the fans up on the rooftop. He’s one of the few people that gets me awe struck.

A Dodgers fan showed up in our section in the third… he was wearing a white/blue plaid zip up hoodie, a Dodgers t-shirt and hat along with blue Dodgers beads… the hoodie was questionable, the shirt and hat were ok but the beads? So I say to him, “Nice Dodger beads.” Everyone in our section starts laughing… and he starts flipping people off. Next thing you know, the entire section is ripping this kid. He’s f bombing everyone, pulling out his California driver’s license (to validate that it’s ok for him to be a Dodgers fan) and then the usher comes down and kicks him out. He was there for literally 15 minutes…

was at the game last night, the crowd was awesome loud from the first pitch and am going back tonight and we have to do the same thing. A little dissapointed with the people leaving after 8 I know it was cold, but come on, this is the playoffs stay till the end. OK if you have kids and they need to get home, but that is not what Phillies Phans should do, walking out before the game is over.
Hope Big Joe has a great game tonight.
It would be nice to jump on Wolf tonight and score in the first.
I think Ryan has been great and an RBI machine, but I think you have to throw Carlos Ruiz in the mix of key players on this team, the guy shuts down running games, calls a great game, and he is hitting over 600 with some key rbis in game one, Senior Octobre is a great game,
Beat LA GO PHILLIES
see you all at the game tonight

Russell Martin is d-bag…..on TV this morning (MLB network,I think) they showed him being interviewed after the game and he basically said that early on the Dodgers knew they had no chance in the game……Imagine one of our guys saying that…..

that was the loudest crowd i’ve ever seen in person last night.. I was soaking it all in more than I was yelling.. but it was a great, great night down there..

…
I know we posted 11 last night, but people need to remember that each game is its own game .. and because we hit the ball well last night doesn’t mean that we will tonight. The problem with the too-high when we win, and too-low when we lose can be seen right now, because everyone is seemingly ready for the Yankees

lets be supportive .. the odds are that we will have to go back to LA (where they are very good at home) .. and have to win a game there to advance. Hopefully we tattoo Wolf all over the yard, but Im not ready to say that we’ve got great momentum, or that we’re unstoppable on Offense .

we got a bunch of runs off of people who hadn’t pitched for them yet in this series, and probably won’t pitch again (for good reason) .. and we didn’t exatcly rock Vincente Padilla …

Anyone going down tonight.. be even louder than we were last night!!! make this place a nightmare of the opponents for the rest of the postseason!

Win tonite, and the Utley miscues are all but forgotten. This game is a trip to the WS. They Phils would not blow a 3-1 to this club. Not even the 1919 whitesox could pull that one off. A loss tonite and the ulcers will return.

-If we’re patient we can knock Wolf around. But if we go chasing his junk this game will be unnecc. close.

-Charlie needs to change this lineup around. It’s hard to complain after a 11-0 rout. But Feliz and J-Roll is holding this O back.

You’re right they can’t when they’re winning. But I’m projecting this O out for the rest pf this series and possb. further…..

You would expect for the games to get closer this series or possb the next. Ruiz is not just on some lucky hitting streak. He had a .330 or so avg going for Sept/Oct going until the wrist injury. Even his outs have been hit hard.

And other than the occss hit here and there, Rolls is not getting on base. Vic reached in his first ab in Games 1/Game 3.

-And Feliz (triple aside) has not been hitting at all. He is also chasing pitches way out of the strike zone.

-A some point your leader guy has to get on base. Look at the Angels. Figgins is having an horrible ps so far, and the Angles O has suff.

-The Phils have the power to compen. but J-Roll’s OPS of about .290 this season will catch up to us sooner or later if he doesn’t turn it around.

I’m always optimistic… I’m hoping that Blanton comes out and pitches like he has something to prove. The guy was arguably our most consistent starter from start to finish. The fact that Charlied did not give him the opportunity to start a game in the Rockies series has to leave him with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

There’s a good chance that Utley and Ibanez will struggle because Wolf is pretty good against lefties. The Dodgers might start intentionally walking Howard… he has been a killer so far. I’m thinking that the killer Iz’ along with Rollins will be the difference… Pedro Feliz has a career OPS of 1.140 against Wolf and Carlos Ruiz is sitting at 2.250 OPS against Wolf. That’s pretty crazy… if those guys get on, Rollins will have opportunities to drive in some runs or extend innings.

The more I think about it, tonight’s game is probably the most intriguing game of the series… you’ve got lefty killer and ex-Phil Randy Wolf against steady Joe. Blanton hasn’t started in a while and that could mean that he’s either rusty or out to prove something. There are a few guys on this team that have killed Wolf, namely Ruiz, Feliz, Rollins and Victorino… after last night’s shellacking, do the Dodgers lay down or do they play with a chip on their shoulders? We’ve seen the Phillies drop double digits and then throw up a goose egg the next game… does this team step on their throats or are they content to lean on Hamels/Lee in games 5 and 7? Showing that killer instinct tonight would send a clear message to the Yankees/Angels… I think that’s what this game is about. It’s a statement game…

It is a must win for the Dodgers so I expect them to show more fight tonight than last night. However, I think the fans can continue to get in their heads. I expect the fans to be extra nasty to Wolf. He walked 5 in 3 innings in the NLDS so rattle him a bit and he might turn into an older version of Kershaw, sucking his thumb, pooping his pants, doing the little cha cha dance.

Statement game?? I don’t know….maybe. What message are we really gonna send the Yankees?? I’m sure they won’t be fazed at all if we come out swinging and scoring. It’s not like they’re gonna be intimidated by that in any way.

Let’s be realistic, people…..whoever goes to the WS and faces the Yankees (assuming it’s them and not the Angels at this point) is going to have their hands full. I’mnot saying the Phillies can’t win……I just think it’s going to be a VERY difficult series. Put it this way……The Yankees aren’t the Rays.

F the Yankees… I prefer to put it this way, Chuck, we’re not the Angels. The Angels are a team that have won games on emotion… eventually, that runs out. Right now, we are playing better baseball than any other team out there. We beat the red hot Rockies in a very competitive series and we’re beating the Dodgers in every aspect of the game right now. The Yankees won game 2 against the Angels because the Angels threw it away. The Yankees beat the Twins because the Twins weren’t ready… they have three starters and are being forced to pitch CC on 3 days rest. CBP will have a field day with CC and A-Fraud…

It was kind of muffled by the TBS broadcast, but u could make out the jist of that was said.

It was hilarious.

This team is built to be ANYONE in a best of 7 series, they are not built to win 100-110 games, ala the Yankees. Our offense will sleep for weeks, then recover. I think being battle tested and facing adversity helps this team respond.

2 more wins and we can legitmately start talking about a possible 2nd straight parade down Broad St, let that soak for a minute.

The Yankees are up 2-0 despite not playing their best ball. The Angels are struggling because C.Figgins has 1 hit the entire post season. Like J-Roll with the Phillies, if Figgins gets going the Angels are an entirely different O. Except we got the hr hitters.

-I am surprised the Yanks’ Billion dollar O has been so quite so far. Except when they’ve needed it most.

That’s right…..Dodgers win tonight and it’s a whole new series. The Phils win and it’s most likely over. But the outcome of the game tonight doesn’t send any other team any message. It only says that we’re a good team that CAN win.

Mark my words, if we lose tonight, the national media will write us off… if we win tonight, people start thinking that maybe the Phillies can compete with the big bad yankees. People will start looking at this team in a different light. Right now, it’s the Yankees and everyone else.

Chuck, don’t buy into the hype. Maybe they have more stars but this team plays better baseball. I think that our starting pitching is just as solid… in fact, I think that ours might be better. CC doesn’t want anything to do with Philadelphia and Burnett is 5-8 against the Phils in his career. Their lineup is better at the top and bottom but we’re better in the middle. Their bench and bullpen is better but that’s nothing new… we are a much better fielding team and we run the bases better. It’s pretty damn close and it probably comes down to match ups; CC/Burnett/Pettitte vs. the Phillies lineup and Lee/Hamels/Pedro/Blanton vs. the Yankees lineup.

Don….thank you…I’m getting a little tired of everybody all of a sudden thinking we’re invincibible just because we scored 11 runs last night. Everyone just needs to relax a bit and take this O N E G A M E A T A T I M E.

Even if we win tonight this isn’t over. If Hamels sucks tomorow and thing goes back to LA….who freaking knows what will happen.